Method and system for synchronizing lighting to music

ABSTRACT

A system for synchronizing lighting to music, comprising a projector having at least one light source for projecting light onto a surface, an I/O interface having a receiver for receiving a music audio signal and a processor in communication with the projector and the I/O interface The processor has an associated memory including instructions stored thereon, that when executed by the processor, perform the steps of acquiring the music audio signal from the I/O interface and modifying in real-time at least one parameter of the at least one light source based on at least one parameter of the music audio signal. In use the light projected by the at least one light source illuminates the surface in synchronization with the music audio signal.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefits of U.S. provisional patentapplication No. 62/374,576 filed on Aug. 12, 2016, which is hereinincorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a method and system for synchronizinglighting to music.

BACKGROUND

Exterior home decoration, in particular for Holidays such as Christmas,can be quite time consuming and expensive in order to make a magicalatmosphere that will be admired by passersby. Lights have to beinstalled manually all over the home, which is time consuming, and oftenhave to be replaced, which can be costly. Furthermore, placement oflights in locations high off the ground, for example at the border ofthe roof, can be dangerous as the person installing the lights is atrisk of a fall.

Accordingly, there is a need for method and system for synchronizinglighting to music that alleviates theses disadvantages.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides a system for synchronizing lighting tomusic, comprising:

-   -   a projector having at least one light source for projecting        light onto a surface;    -   an I/O interface having a receiver for receiving a music audio        signal; and    -   a processor in communication with the projector and the I/O        interface, the processor having an associated memory including        instructions stored thereon, that when executed by the        processor, perform the steps of:        -   acquiring the music audio signal from the I/O interface; and        -   modifying in real-time at least one parameter of the at            least one light source based on at least one parameter of            the music audio signal;

wherein in use the light projected by the at least one light sourceilluminates the surface in synchronization with the music audio signal.

The present disclosure also provides a system for synchronizing lightingto music as described above, further comprising a speaker for convertingthe music audio signal to music.

The present disclosure further provides a system for synchronizinglighting to music as described above, wherein the projector furtherincludes a motion assembly having optical elements configured to cause aprojected light path change for the light projected by some or all ofthe at least one light source and wherein the instructions, whenexecuted by the processor, further perform the step of modifying atleast one of a speed or a direction of movement of the motion assemblybased on at least one parameter of the music audio signal.

The present disclosure also provides a system for synchronizing lightingto music as described above, wherein the instructions, when executed bythe processor, further perform the steps of:

-   -   randomly modifying the at least one parameter of the at least        one light source; and/or    -   randomly modifying at least one of a speed or direction of        movement of the motion assembly.

The present disclosure further provides a system for synchronizinglighting to music as described above, wherein the at least one lightsource is selected from a group consisting of a laser and a lightemitting diode, the at least one light source parameter is selected froma group consisting of intensity, color component and duration and the atleast one music audio signal parameter is selected from a groupconsisting of frequency, amplitude, frequency range and amplitude range.

The present disclosure also provides a system for synchronizing lightingto music as described above, further comprising a sensor configured fordetecting the presence of an individual in order to activate the systemfor synchronizing lighting to music, the sensor being a movementdetector or a sound detector, and may also include a camera or amicrophone.

The present disclosure further provides a system for synchronizinglighting to music as described above, further comprising a heaterconfigured for keeping the at least one light source at an operationaltemperature.

The present disclosure also provides a system for synchronizing lightingto music as described above, further comprising a power unit configuredfor providing power to the system for synchronizing lighting to music,the power unit taking the form of at least one battery or a solar panelwith at least one associated battery.

The present disclosure further provides a system for synchronizinglighting to music as described above, wherein the receiver is atransceiver and wherein the instructions, when executed by theprocessor, further perform the step of synchronizing a plurality ofsystem for synchronizing lighting to music to the music audio signalthrough the input/output (I/O) interface and/or providing the musicaudio signal to a plurality of remote speakers through the input/output(I/O) interface.

The present disclosure also provides a system for synchronizing lightingto music as described above, further comprising a user interface forcontrolling the system for synchronizing lighting to music, the userinterface consisting of a remote controller, a web server or anapplication server.

The present disclosure further provides a system for synchronizinglighting to music as described above, wherein the instructions, whenexecuted by the processor, further perform the step of playing audiofiles stored on a remote data storage device through the input/output(I/O) interface or in a data storage space within the memory associatedwith the processor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Embodiments of the disclosure will be described by way of examples onlywith reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is schematic representation of a system for synchronizinglighting to music in accordance with a first illustrative embodiment ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is schematic representation of a system for synchronizinglighting to music in accordance with a second illustrative embodiment ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is schematic representation of a system for synchronizinglighting to music in accordance with a third illustrative embodiment ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is schematic representation of a system for synchronizinglighting to music in accordance with a fourth illustrative embodiment ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is schematic representation of a system for synchronizinglighting to music in accordance with a fifth illustrative embodiment ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is schematic representation of a network of systems forsynchronizing lighting to music;

FIG. 7 is schematic representation of a network of systems forsynchronizing lighting to music with remote speakers; and

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of the light/music synchronization process inaccordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure.

Similar references used in different Figures denote similar components.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Generally stated, the non-limitative illustrative embodiment of thepresent disclosure provide a method and system for synchronizinglighting to music, more specifically a method and system forilluminating a landscape as well as the outside or inside of a home insynchronization with music.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown the system for synchronizinglighting to music 10 in accordance with a first illustrative embodimentof the present disclosure, which generally comprises a power unit 11,processor 12 with an associated memory 14 having stored thereinprocessor executable instructions to be executed by the processor 12 toperform the various processes of the system for synchronizing lightingto music 10, a speaker 18, an input/output (I/O) interface 20, areceiver/transceiver 22, an optional user interface (UI) 24, an optionalsensor 26, an optional heater 28 and a projector 30.

The power unit 11, which provides power to the various components of thesystem for synchronizing lighting to music 10, may be in the form ofbatteries, a power cord or other source of power, with powerconverter/transformer, if applicable, as known in the art.

The input/output (I/O) interface 20 and receiver/transceiver 22 areconfigured for connection with a remote controller 40, via WiFi,Bluetooth, RF or other wireless communication technology, allowing auser to remotely control the system for synchronizing lighting to music10. For example, the remote controller 40 can include buttons orselectors for powering ON/OFF the system for synchronizing lighting tomusic 10, enabling/selecting various parameters such as colors,patterns, speed, direction, various Holiday themes, sound level,selection of songs/audio files, etc. The input/output (I/O) interface 20and receiver/transceiver 22 are also configured for connection to amusic source 50, via WiFi, Bluetooth or other wireless communicationtechnology, for example a smart phone, iPod™, tablet PC, laptopcomputer, DVD player, game console or other such device, to the systemfor synchronizing lighting to music 10.

In an alternative embodiment, an optional user interface 24 may beprovided physically on the system for synchronizing lighting to music 10in order to control its operations. The user interface 24 may be asimple as an ON/OFF commuter switch or include various buttons orselectors for controlling the system for synchronizing lighting to music10. For example, the user interface 24 may include buttons or selectorsfor enabling/selecting, as per the remote controller 40, variousparameters such as colors, patterns, speed, direction, various Holidaythemes, sound level, selection of songs/audio files, etc.

In a further alternative embodiment, user interface 24 may the take theform of a web or application server, which can be accessed, for example,from a smart phone, tablet PC, laptop computer or other such device,running a browser application or app for controlling the system forsynchronizing lighting to music 10.

In another alternative embodiment, an optional sensor 26 may be providedfor detecting the presence of one or more individuals in the vicinity ofthe system for synchronizing lighting to music 10 in order to activateit. The sensor 26 may be a movement detector, sound detector or othersuch sensor, and may also include a camera and/or microphone enablingthe surveillance of a structure at which the system for synchronizinglighting to music 10 is aimed.

The system for synchronizing lighting to music 10 can be programmed toalways remain active when powered or in various alternative embodiments,remain active for a specified period of time, activate at specific hoursor range of hours, activate by a user or activate automatically when thesensor 26 detects the presence of one of more individuals.

In yet another alternative embodiment, an optional heater 28 may beprovided to keep the components of the system for synchronizing lightingto music 10, especially the projector 30, at a specified range oftemperatures to protect and/or keep components at an optimal operationaltemperature, which is useful especially in cold weather such as theHolidays where such system is used outdoors in the cold.

The projector 30 can take various forms, such as a digital projector,RGB, monochrome, diode, laser, LED or other light sources and be ofvarying definition, number of light sources and/or wavelength range. Theprojector 30 may also include a motion assembly provided with opticalelements (mirrors, lenses, etc.) and motor/gears configured to cause achange in the path of the light projections from the light source, thusmoving the light projections along a surface. It is to be understoodthat the light/music synchronization process 16 a is configured toaddress the specific characteristics of the light source and/or motionassembly of the projector 30.

The memory 14 has stored therein the light/music synchronization process16 a to be executed by the processor 12 in order to synchronize lightprojections of the projector 30 with an audio signal from the musicsource 50, which is played through the speaker 18. It is to beunderstood that in an alternative embodiment, the speaker 18 may beomitted and the audio signal from the music source 50 played on a remotespeaker not linked to the system for synchronizing lighting to music 10.

The light/music synchronization process 16 a includes an algorithm thatmodifies at least one of the intensity and/or duration of at least oneof the pixel, diode, laser, led or other light source projection of theprojector 30, and/or, if present, speed and/or direction of movement ofthe motion assembly, based on the frequency and/or amplitude, ordistinct ranges thereof, of the audio signal from the music source 50.In one example, the amplitude of the sound signal (or power from a soundamplifier) can be used to modulate the brightness of the light source(or power provided to the light source). Further to this, colorcomponents of the light source may be assigned to frequency ranges ofthe sound signal, the brightness of those color components depending onthe amplitude of the corresponding frequencies. Furthermore, randomchanges in intensity, duration of at least one of the pixel, diode,laser, led or other light source projection of the projector 30, alongwith random speed and/or direction of movement of the motion assembly ofthe projector 30 (for example speed and/or direction of rotation of amotor), may also be enabled.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown the system for synchronizinglighting to music 10 in accordance with a second illustrative embodimentof the present disclosure, which further includes a music player process16 b, stored within the memory 14, allowing the system for synchronizinglighting to music 10 to receive and play audio files, such as MP3,MPEG-4, WAV, WMA or other audio file format, from the music source 50instead of an audio signal, the music player process 16 b including theappropriate codecs for the selected audio file formats. Accordingly, thelight projections of the projector 30 are synchronized with the audiosignal from the music player process 16 b.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown the system for synchronizinglighting to music 10 in accordance with a third illustrative embodimentof the present disclosure, which further includes data storage space 16c within the memory 14 in order to store therein audio files downloadedvia the input/output (I/O) interface 20 and receiver/transceiver 22.

Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown the system for synchronizinglighting to music 10 in accordance with a fourth illustrative embodimentof the present disclosure, wherein the input/output (I/O) interface 20includes one or more connectors, such as USB, Firewire, Thunderbolt,etc., for connecting an external data storage device 60 for storingthereon music data files, for example a smart phone, iPod™, tablet PC,laptop computer, DVD player, game console, hard disk, SSD drive, USB keyor other such data storage device, to the system for synchronizinglighting to music 10 for playing using the music player process 16 b.

It is to be understood that in an alternative embodiment both the datastorage space 16 c (see FIG. 3) and the external data storage device 60(see FIG. 4) may be present.

Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown the system for synchronizinglighting to music 10 in accordance with a fifth illustrative embodimentof the present disclosure, wherein the power unit 11 takes the form of asolar panel 11 a with an associated battery 11 b for providing power tothe system for synchronizing lighting to music 10.

Referring now to FIG. 6, there is shown a network of systems forsynchronizing lighting to music 10, which are all synchronized to thesame music source 50 via, for example, a Bluetooth network through theirrespective input/output (I/O) interface 20 and receiver/transceiver 22.It is to be understood that other networking technologies may be used,for example, WiFi or other wireless communication technology. Thesynchronization may be handled by the light/music synchronizationprocess 16 a or by a dedicated networking process stored in the memory14.

Referring now to FIG. 7, there is shown another network of systems forsynchronizing lighting to music 10, further comprising remote speakers70 networked with one or more system for synchronizing lighting to music10 via, for example, a Bluetooth network through the respectiveinput/output (I/O) interface 20 and receiver/transceiver 22 of thesystems for synchronizing lighting to music 10. It is to be understoodthat other networking technologies may be used, for example, WiFi orother wireless communication technology. The synchronization may behandled by the light/music synchronization process 16 a or by adedicated networking process stored in the memory 14.

It is to be understood that in alternative embodiments, the networkedsystems for synchronizing lighting to music 10 and/or the remotespeakers 70 may also be in communication via wired links or acombination of wired and wireless links.

It is to be further understood that depending on the embodiment of thesystem for synchronizing lighting to music 10, the receiver/transceiver22 may be a receiver or a transceiver depending on whether one-way ortwo-way communication is required.

Referring to FIG. 8, there is shown a flow diagram of an illustrativeembodiment of the algorithm 100 of the light/music synchronizationprocess 16 a executed by the processor 12. Steps of the algorithm 100are indicated by blocks 102 to 108.

The algorithm 100 starts at block 102 where an audio signal is acquiredeither from a music source 50 or the music player process 16 b.

At block 104, the algorithm 100 analyses the received audio signal anddetermines the frequency and/or amplitude of the signal in real-time.

Then, at block 106, the algorithm 100 modifies in real-time at least oneof the intensity or duration of at least one of the light sources(pixel, laser, led or diode, etc.) from the projector 30 based on thefrequency and/or amplitude, or distinct ranges thereof, of the audiosignal. Color components of the light sources may be assigned tofrequency ranges of the sound signal, the brightness of those colorcomponents depending on the amplitude of the corresponding frequencies.In the case where the projector 30 includes a motion assembly, thealgorithm may also modify the speed and/or direction of movement of themotion assembly based on the frequency and/or amplitude, or distinctranges thereof, of the audio signal.

Optionally, at block 108, random changes in intensity or duration of atleast one of the light sources from the projector 30 may be appliedand/or, in the case where the projector 30 includes a motion assembly,random changes in the speed and/or direction of movement of the motionassembly.

It is to be understood that the various features of the describedillustrative embodiments of the system for synchronizing lighting tomusic 10 may be rearranged in different combinations than those shownand that for the sake of brevity the shown illustrative embodiments donot represent an exhaustive list of all possible combinations.

Although the present disclosure has been described with a certain degreeof particularity and by way of illustrative embodiments and examplesthereof, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is notlimited to the features of the embodiments described and illustratedherein, but includes all variations and modifications within the scopeof the disclosure as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for synchronizing lighting to music,comprising: a projector having at least one light source for projectinglight onto a surface; an I/O interface having a receiver for receiving amusic audio signal; and a processor in communication with the projectorand the I/O interface, the processor having an associated memoryincluding instructions stored thereon, that when executed by theprocessor, perform the steps of: acquiring the music audio signal fromthe I/O interface; and modifying in real-time at least one parameter ofthe at least one light source based on at least one parameter of themusic audio signal; wherein in use the light projected by the at leastone light source illuminates the surface in synchronization with themusic audio signal.
 2. A system for synchronizing lighting to music inaccordance with claim 1, further comprising: a speaker for convertingthe music audio signal to music.
 3. A system for synchronizing lightingto music in accordance with claim 1, wherein the instructions, whenexecuted by the processor, further perform the step of: randomlymodifying the at least one parameter of the at least one light source.4. A system for synchronizing lighting to music in accordance with claim1, wherein the projector further includes a motion assembly havingoptical elements configured to cause a projected light path change forthe light projected by some or all of the at least one light source. 5.A system for synchronizing lighting to music in accordance with claim 4,wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, furtherperform the step of: modifying at least one of a speed or a direction ofmovement of the motion assembly based on at least one parameter of themusic audio signal.
 6. A system for synchronizing lighting to music inaccordance with claim 4, wherein the instructions, when executed by theprocessor, further perform the step of: randomly modifying at least oneof a speed or direction of movement of the motion assembly.
 7. A systemfor synchronizing lighting to music in accordance with claim 1, whereinthe at least one light source is selected from a group consisting of alaser and a light emitting diode.
 8. A system for synchronizing lightingto music in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one lightsource parameter is selected from a group consisting of intensity, colorcomponent and duration.
 9. A system for synchronizing lighting to musicin accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one music audio signalparameter is selected from a group consisting of frequency, amplitude,frequency range and amplitude range.
 10. A system for synchronizinglighting to music in accordance with claim 1, further comprising asensor configured for detecting the presence of an individual in orderto activate the system for synchronizing lighting to music.
 11. A systemfor synchronizing lighting to music in accordance with claim 10, whereinthe sensor is selected from a group consisting of a movement detectorand a sound detector.
 12. A system for synchronizing lighting to musicin accordance with claim 10, wherein the sensor includes at least one ofa camera and a microphone.
 13. A system for synchronizing lighting tomusic in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a heater configuredfor keeping the at least one light source at an operational temperature.14. A system for synchronizing lighting to music in accordance withclaim 1, further comprising a power unit configured for providing powerto the system for synchronizing lighting to music, the power unit beingselected from a group consisting of at least one battery and a solarpanel with at least one associated battery.
 15. A system forsynchronizing lighting to music in accordance with claim 1, wherein thereceiver is a transceiver.
 16. A system for synchronizing lighting tomusic in accordance with claim 15, wherein the instructions, whenexecuted by the processor, further perform the step of: synchronizing aplurality of system for synchronizing lighting to music to the musicaudio signal through the input/output (I/O) interface.
 17. A system forsynchronizing lighting to music in accordance with claim 15, wherein theinstructions, when executed by the processor, further perform the stepof: providing the music audio signal to a plurality of remote speakersthrough the input/output (I/O) interface.
 18. A system for synchronizinglighting to music in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a userinterface for controlling the system for synchronizing lighting tomusic.
 19. A system for synchronizing lighting to music in accordancewith claim 18, wherein the user interface is selected from a groupconsisting of a remote controller, a web server and an applicationserver.
 20. A system for synchronizing lighting to music in accordancewith claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor,further perform the step of: playing audio files stored on a remote datastorage device through the input/output (I/O) interface or in a datastorage space within the memory associated with the processor.